Finding your personal style
Personal style isn’t about fashion. It’s about creating your own unique image by curating a wardrobe that makes you feel good and helps you express yourself.
Set up a Pinterest account and create some mood boards where you can collect ideas. You’ll start to see a theme emerge. My Pinterest board is a pretty colourful affair
I find myself drawn to the older woman embracing colour and layers. Although layers need to be treated carefully as they can make you look bulky. A tailored jacket on top of the layers can provide some definition and, with my lack of waist, I need that.
It’s often good to revisit clothes we haven’t worn for ages. As we get older our body shape changes. Even if we are no larger/heavier, things seem to have moved southward. Going through your wardrobe and trying on different combinations of the clothes you have can be an eye-opener. Sometimes mixing a dress you may have kept for ‘best’ with jeans/leggings or a denim jacket can breathe new life into a garment.
I don’t believe in ‘best’ anyway. My criteria for buying something is always: ‘can I wear this with wellies or walking boots?’ I want to get as much wear out of an item of clothing as possible. Ironically it’s the items we spend most on for those special occasion that linger in the wardrobe gathering dust.
Most of my clothes come from jumble sales, charity shops and car boot sales. But I do have a few items that were new and expensive. They are only worth the money to me if I get the wear out of them. A pair of boots I bought 12 years ago cost me £180 (a huge amount of money at the time). As soon as it’s cold enough for boots, out they come, and I live in them until it’s time for sandals. I had to replace a zip on one boot but otherwise they are as good as new.
Don’t be afraid to mix vintage with new, bargain basement with designer (if you can afford it). No point being a label snob. I’m not saying don’t buy new but ask yourself these questions before you shell out on that dress:
Do I really like this item of clothing?
What will I wear it with?
Is it pretty much identical to several other items I already own?
Does it fit me properly?
Is it comfortable?
Will I wear it enough to warrant the price tag?
Of course, there are the ethical questions that come into play when we’re shopping but that’s another article.
In the meantime, why not browse of emporium of preloved clothing.
